Successful strategies implemented towards the elimination of canine rabies in the Western Hemisphere

Abstract

Almost all cases of human rabies result from dog bites, making the elimination of canine rabies a global priority. During recent decades, many countries in the Western Hemisphere have carried out large-scale dog vaccination campaigns, controlled their free-ranging dog populations and enforced legislation for responsible pet ownership. This article reviews progress in eliminating canine rabies from the Western Hemisphere. After briefly summarizing the history of control efforts and describing the approaches listed above, we note that programs in some countries have been hindered by societal attitudes and severe economic disparities, which underlines the need to discuss measures that will be required to complete the elimination of canine rabies throughout the region. We also note that there is a constant threat for dog-maintained epizootics to re-occur, so as long as dog-maintained rabies “hot spots” are still present, free-roaming dog populations remain large, herd immunity becomes low and dog-derived rabies lyssavirus (RABLV) variants continue to circulate in close proximity to rabies-naïve dog populations. The elimination of dog-maintained rabies will be only feasible if both dog-maintained and dog-derived RABLV lineages and variants are permanently eliminated. This may be possible by keeping dog herd immunity above 70% at all times, fostering sustained laboratory-based surveillance through reliable rabies diagnosis and RABLV genetic typing in dogs, domestic animals and wildlife, as well as continuing to educate the population on the risk of rabies transmission, prevention and responsible pet ownership. Complete elimination of canine rabies requires permanent funding, with governments and people committed to make it a reality. An accompanying article reviews the history and epidemiology of canine rabies in the Western Hemisphere, beginning with its introduction during the period of European colonization, and discusses how spillovers of viruses between dogs and various wild carnivores will affect future eradication efforts (Velasco-Villa et al., 2017).

Not all surveillance data are created equal—A multi‐method dynamic occupancy approach to determine rabies elimination from wildlife

“…The greatest human disease burden from rabies virus (RABV) globally is associated with transmission from domestic dogs (Hampson et al, ). However, RABV also circulates independently in diverse bat and carnivore wildlife reservoirs (Gilbert, ; Velasco‐Villa et al, ), which are associated human exposures and prophylactic treatments (Christian, Blanton, Auslander, & Rupprecht, ), with economic costs (Sterner & Smith, ). Control of RABV circulation in domestic and wild carnivores focuses on the principle of preventive vaccination to reduce susceptible fractions of a target population to eliminate disease transmission.…”

Formation of the Asian Rabies Control Network (ARACON): A common approach towards a global good

“…Due to the transboundary nature of rabies, those countries that have succeeded in eliminating dog-mediated rabies did not do so without regional collaboration. In this regard, the most recent evidence is from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the network of Directors of Rabies Programs in the Americas (REDIPRA) Velasco-Villa et al, 2017), as well as the North American Rabies Management Plan (NARMP) (Slate et al, 2009).…”

Eradicate Rabies with Mass Parental Vaccination, Human Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, and Gene Therapy: A Systematic Review

“…These countries have had no rabies case for one to 10 years. However, Vilasco-Villa et al stated that Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay, and Paraguay have no laboratory to assess the absence of dog maintained RABV lineages [51].…”